Library's review
Fresh off reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane, I traveled back in time to pick up one of Gaiman’s earlier spooktaculars. Not that it was very spooky (I assume this is intended for a YA or younger audience), but the characters — both alive and dead — were delightful and the plot hummed
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right along. Then again, I’m the kind of weirdo who thinks growing up in a graveyard with ghosts for foster parents sounds really cool, so your mileage may vary. Show Less
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Description
Nobody Owens is a normal boy, except that he has been raised by ghosts and other denizens of the graveyard.
Media reviews
VOYA
Gaiman writes with charm and humor, and again he has a real winner.
Like a bite of dark Halloween chocolate, this novel proves rich, bittersweet and very satisfying.
This is fine work, from beginning to end, and the best bedtime story read-aloud material I've encountered in a long time. Can't wait until my daughter's old enough to read this to.
When the chilling moments do come, they are as genuinely frightening as only Gaiman can make them, and redeem any shortcomings.
While “The Graveyard Book” will entertain people of all ages, it’s especially a tale for children. Gaiman’s remarkable cemetery is a place that children more than anyone would want to visit. They would certainly want to look for Silas in his chapel, maybe climb down (if they were as brave
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as Bod) to the oldest burial chamber, or (if they were as reckless) search for the ghoul gate. Children will appreciate Bod’s occasional mistakes and bad manners, and relish his good acts and eventual great ones. The story’s language and humor are sophisticated, but Gaiman respects his readers and trusts them to understand. Show Less
Awards
Hugo Award (Nominee — Novel — 2009)
Boston Globe–Horn Book Award (Honor — Fiction & Poetry — 2009)
Audie Award (Finalist — Thriller/Suspense — 2009)
Sequoyah Book Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2011)
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award (Nominee — 2013)
LA Times Book Prize (Finalist — Young Adult Literature — 2008)
Mythopoeic Awards (Finalist — Children's Literature — 2009)
Locus Award (Finalist — Young Adult Novel — 2009)
Great Stone Face Book Award (Nominee — 2010)
World Fantasy Award (Nominee — Novel — 2009)
Kentucky Bluegrass Award (Nominee — Grades 6-8 — 2010)
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Grades 6-8 — 2012)
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2011)
Newbery Medal (Medal Winner — 2009)
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (Nominee)
SF Site Reader's Choice (2008)
Sunshine State Young Reader's Award (Nominee — Grades 6-8 — 2013)
British Fantasy Award (Nominee — August Derleth Fantasy Award — 2009)
Nēnē Award (Nominee — 2012)
Indies Choice Book Award (Winner — Young Adult Fiction — 2009)
SF Site Editor's Choice (2008)
USBBY Outstanding International Book (Grades 6-8 — 2009)
Garden State Teen Book Award (Winner — Grades 6-8 — 2011)
Thumbs Up! Award (Honor — 2009)
Oregon Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2011)
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Nominee — 2011)
Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing (Nominee — 2010)
Black Quill Award (Nominee — 2008)
Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award (Finalist — Finalist — 2009)
Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration (Nominee — 2010)
Golden Archer Award (Nominee — 2010)
Booktrust Teenage Prize (Winner — 2009)
Volunteer State Book Award (Nominee — Young Adult — 2011)
The White Ravens (2009)
Evergreen Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2011)
Isinglass Teen Read Award (Nominee — 2010)
Hampshire Book Awards (Shortlist — Hampshire Book Award — 2010)
Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award (Winner — 2009)
CYBILS Awards (Winner — 2008)
Locus Recommended Reading (Young Adult — 2008)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2009)
CCBC Choices (2009)
Notable Children's Book (2009)
Idaho Battle of the Books (2019)
Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults (Fiction)
Language
Original publication date
2008-09-30